Any pilots here?

[hyperD]

I'm a PPL/IR Multi although the IR bit expired sadly.

Fly Seneca II twins at the moment. I flew alot 7 years ago in Australia (Perth) and the USA although flying twins in the UK is ridiculously expensive (£300/hr) and I struggle to maintain qualifying hours now.

Suggested I go to singles/microlights but once you've tasted the 200mph+ twins, it's difficult to go back.

Wife won't let me have my own plane until the mortgage is paid off...

[Funkywood]

I used £90 worth of Tesco clubcard vouchers to get an hour's helicopter flying at Elsetree. Does that count?

Seriously, I've wanted to get a license for ages but the costs in the UK are prohibitive. When I checked a few years ago Australia or the USA were less than half the cost so I'm saving up to go there.

[Lockhouse]

My stepson is 17, a qualified glider pilot and is soon going to the US to do his PPL. For health reasons he can't fly fighters so the RAF is out. We are currently looking round at the sponsorship options for him to fly commercials. It looks like it's £65K or get sponsored :-(

[snaw]

Yeah, its a job you gotta love though. £100k outlay (unless you get an airline to pay for it....fat chance these days) for a £100k a year job (after 7 years on £25 - £50k).

My best mates a commercial pilot, took him 8 years and about 100k so it's a big effort. But after one year of working for some dodgy eastern european airline he's now back working with globespan for55k and he'll be on much more pretty soon. Bad you might say but on the plus side he probably only works 9-10 days a month and he's absolutely set for life now. Not too mention all the hosties he's been getting (One of the few perks of being based in the czeque repulic for a year) ;-)

[NadJ]

The way it works these days is you train for and complete all exams for the ATPL. However, it does not become an ATPL until you reach a certain experience requirement (which could take 5 years to reach). The true name of the license is a fATPL (frozen ATPL) or a CPL/IR (Commercial Pilots License with Instrument Rating).

Being young, and a relatively patient person, I think I'll wait for an airline to pay for any type ratings!

I gained my PPL at just 18, and now 7 years later I'm completing my professional training at an outfit in Essex. Sounds like your mate is one of those CTC Wings cadets? I tried for that a few years ago - really tough.

[Sockpuppet]

I thought you had to do CPL before the ATPL. How are you dealing with the type ratings - going to get rated on 737-800 or see if you can get an airline to do that bit for you.

I'd be interested to know where you are doing it, my mate is in NZ doing his.

[NadJ]

I'm a PPL and about to commence my ATPL. Switched to contracting so that I could fund the whole thing! The folks who pay £100k have testicles for brains that's all I can say! My total cost will be more like £45k over 7 years. Nothing really.

You're right about the pay. Unfortunately, terms and conditions for pilots (including salary) have gone to the dogs since Ryanair and other Low cost carriers came on to the scene.

I hope to stick to IT for a few more years though, before making the move.

[Sockpuppet]

Yeah, its a job you gotta love though. £100k outlay (unless you get an airline to pay for it....fat chance these days) for a £100k a year job (after 7 years on £25 - £50k).

[TheFaQQer]

Someone I worked with in the past had just got his commercial licence and was giving up contracting to become a permie pilot.

[cybersquatter]

I've always had an interest in getting involved in aviation, with a vague view to maybe doing it professionally one day. But I've not done anything about it. How did people get involved with it in the first place?

[Sockpuppet]

Anyone? past, present, aspiring?

Seems every other fellow pilot I meet has something to do with IT, so no doubt a few will be on here?

It'd be nice to hear how you combine the two (IT and flying) in your life.

PPL, CPL or ATPL!!!

I'm guessing that you are PPL? I have a mate who is doing his ATPL training at the moment and he is trying to convince to me come and join him at the place in NZ he is at.

[NadJ]

Anyone? past, present, aspiring?

Seems every other fellow pilot I meet has something to do with IT, so no doubt a few will be on here?

It'd be nice to hear how you combine the two (IT and flying) in your life.